In a simple home network, typically it is a workgroup network which has specific workgroup name (typically default workgroup name is WORKGROUP), and unique ID of each computers on the network. Network setting is needed for communication between computers on the network including the workgroup name, the TCP/IP protocol configuration of each computer, printer share if any, network cabling, and so on.
Network setting in a workgroup-based network offers the following advantages:
- Shared storage. By designating certain folders as shared resources, you avoid the need to swap files on flash disk or to maintain duplicate copies of files; instead, everyone on the network can open a shared report or access a collection of digital photos or music files from a single location.
- Shared printers. Sharing a printer allows any authorized network user to print to that device. By setting permissions on shared printers on a home network, you can prevent your kids from wasting expensive paper and ink on a high-quality color photo printer. (This option is available only with Windows XP Professional, and only if Simple File Sharing is disabled.)
- Shared Internet connection. It’s not like in a business or large scale network where internet connection solution is designed with a strong based policy configured into the external firewall, in home network typically uses compact DSL modem router which allows you share Internet connection easily. Using Internet Connection Sharing, you can set up Internet access on a single computer and allow every computer on the network to share that connection. This capability is most useful if you have a high-speed Internet connection, such as a cable or DSL modem; however, you can share a dial-up Internet connection as well and control it from any computer on the network.
Network setting on a computer running Windows is no longer the complex and sometimes frustrating process it used to be. On a network where every computer is running Microsoft Windows XP, in fact, you may find that your network requires no configuration at all—after you finish setting up Windows; your network is available for immediate access.
Workgroup Name
The first thing to perform a network setting in a simple home network is providing the workgroup name. All the computers connected to the network should have the same workgroup name for example HOMENET or whatever the name that is convenience for you. How do you provide a workgroup name?
Configuring the Workgroup Name in Network Setting in Windows XP, follow the steps bellow:
- Click Start => point the cursor to the My Computer icon and then right click select Property.
- In the System Property windows select the Computer Name tab. The full computer name and Workgroup name are identified here; the names are the result of the initial configuration during the Windows installation. If we need to change the current network setting about the computer name and or the workgroup name, click the Change button. Type in the computer name and the appropriate Workgroup name and then click the OK button. The system prompts you to restart the system, restart it and the new computer name and the workgroup name will reflect the changes after system rebooting.
Configuring the workgroup name
Change the Workgroup Name
Configuring the TCP/IP
Assuming that the network is using the compact home ADSL Gateway such as D-Link DSL-2540 which has ADSL2/2+ modem and integrated router with 4-port Switch for wired connection up to 4 computers. With this DSL Modem-router, the network setting is easy because it supports the DHCP services you can enable (enabled by default). DHCP will provide the IP configuration to the computers on the network automatically as long as the computer is configured to receive the IP address automatically. Refer to the article about the simple computer network that will provide detail information for TCP/IP network setting.
By default when the Computer with Ethernet / Wi-Fi adapter enable, the TCP/IP property will be configured to obtain the IP address automatically and obtain the DNS servers address automatically. So you just connect the computer to the Switch, and the computer is ready to go networking (on a network with DHCP server enabled).
What if the DHCP service is not available? In a situation where the DHCP server is not available, you need to configure the computer to use the static IP address. Each the computer in the network must be configured with a unique IP address and computer name.
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